James Heath (golfer)
Encyclopedia
James Joseph Heath is an English
professional golf
er.
Heath was born in London
. He started playing golf with his father at the age of ten. Having played in the Faldo Junior Series, he went on to a successful amateur career, highlighted by winning the English Amateur
and Lytham Trophy
, where he broke the previous scoring record by 10 strokes, in 2004. He turned professional
at the end of that year.
Having played in three tournaments on the European tour
as an amateur in 2004, Heath joined the second tier Challenge Tour
in 2005, and was moderately successful in his first season, finishing 23rd on the end of season rankings. Having failed to come through qualifying school
at the end of the year, he was again playing on the second tier in 2006. He enjoyed even more success, winning his first professional title at the ECCO Tour Championship
in Denmark
on his way to 14th in the Challenge Tour Rankings and graduation to the European Tour for 2007.
Heath's rookie season on the European Tour was largely unsuccessful, although he did manage two top ten finishes in minor events, and he was back on the Challenge Tour in 2008.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er.
Heath was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He started playing golf with his father at the age of ten. Having played in the Faldo Junior Series, he went on to a successful amateur career, highlighted by winning the English Amateur
English Amateur
The English Amateur is the national amateur match play golf championship of England. It has been played annually since 1925 and is organized by the English Golf Union....
and Lytham Trophy
Lytham Trophy
The Lytham Trophy is an amateur golf tournament founded in 1965 by the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, where it has always been held. It is a 72-hole scratch stroke play competition, and is classified as a Category A event by the World Amateur Golf Rankings....
, where he broke the previous scoring record by 10 strokes, in 2004. He turned professional
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
at the end of that year.
Having played in three tournaments on the European tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
as an amateur in 2004, Heath joined the second tier Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
in 2005, and was moderately successful in his first season, finishing 23rd on the end of season rankings. Having failed to come through qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
at the end of the year, he was again playing on the second tier in 2006. He enjoyed even more success, winning his first professional title at the ECCO Tour Championship
ECCO Tour Championship
The ECCO Tour Championship is the most prestigious golf tournament on the Denmark based ECCO Tour, being jointly sanctioned by Europe's second tier Challenge Tour. It has run annually since 2006...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
on his way to 14th in the Challenge Tour Rankings and graduation to the European Tour for 2007.
Heath's rookie season on the European Tour was largely unsuccessful, although he did manage two top ten finishes in minor events, and he was back on the Challenge Tour in 2008.
Amateur wins (5)
- 1999 English Under 16 Championship
- 2002 Greek Amateur Open Championship, Faldo Junior Series
- 2004 English AmateurEnglish AmateurThe English Amateur is the national amateur match play golf championship of England. It has been played annually since 1925 and is organized by the English Golf Union....
, Lytham TrophyLytham TrophyThe Lytham Trophy is an amateur golf tournament founded in 1965 by the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, where it has always been held. It is a 72-hole scratch stroke play competition, and is classified as a Category A event by the World Amateur Golf Rankings....
Challenge Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 Aug 2006 2006 Challenge Tour The 2006 Challenge Tour was a series of golf tournaments known as the Challenge Tour, the official development tour run by the PGA European Tour. The tour was started as the Satellite Tour in 1986 and was renamed the Challenge Tour ready for the start of the 1990 season.The Challenge Tour Rankings... |
ECCO Tour Championship ECCO Tour Championship The ECCO Tour Championship is the most prestigious golf tournament on the Denmark based ECCO Tour, being jointly sanctioned by Europe's second tier Challenge Tour. It has run annually since 2006... |
3 strokes |  Thomas NørretThomas Nørret -Career:Nørret turned professional in 1999 at the relatively late age of 25, having spent time studying in both Denmark and the USA. He immediately joined the second-tier Challenge Tour and found instant success, posting two runners-up finishes in his debut season and finishing 25th in the final... |
Team appearances
Amateur- Jacques Léglise TrophyJacques Léglise TrophyThe Jacques Léglise Trophy is an annual boys' team golf competition between Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe. It was inaugurated in 1958 and is organised by the R&A. Great Britain & Ireland dominated in the early years to such an extent that it was discontinued in 1966. It was...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2001 - Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
(representing England): 2004 - St Andrews TrophySt Andrews TrophyThe St Andrews Trophy is a biennial men's team golf tournament contested between teams of amateur golfers representing Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe. It takes its name from St Andrews in Scotland, which is colloquially known as the "Home of Golf". The competition was founded in...
(representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2004 (winners) - Bonallack Cup: 2004